This greedy little fella just can't stop eating honey and won't go home with his mother. The grumpy little devil is nearby chopping wood to make a fire to cook his dinner. But first, he has to catch it.

The first adventure of the muddle-headed wombat and his further adventures at school, on holiday and in the tree-tops with his friends, a tiny, practical mouse and a vain, neurotic, tabby cat, combined in one book.

The ants come scurrying one by one. Quickly, they're followed by swooping barn owls, trundling wombats, jumping kangaroos, striding brolgas and other favourite Australian animals, all in their race to get to the ark before the flood.

In this book you'll meet twelve amazing Australian women who have changed the world, in small ways and large. Some of them are world famous, like Annette Kellerman and Nellie Melba. Some of them are famous in Australia, like Mary Reibey and Edith Cowan. And all of them deserve to be famous, and admired. They represent the warriors, artists, business owners, scientists, singers, politicians, actors, athletes, adventurers, activists and innovators of Australia.

Amy and her friends take an exciting time travel adventure with the help of a rainbow necklace. After finding a map of South Australia with a mysterious location, the necklace takes them to Wilpena Pound in the early 1900s. Here they meet Jessie Hill, whose family is threatened by a disastrous flood. The girls learn about courage and the value of true friendship.

Andy Web studied Art at the National Gallery. It was his dream to exhibit there one day. How will he ever achieve his dream? Join Andy, the original artist-in-residence, as he gets up close and personal with the great masters to learn all he can about art.

Audrey can't wait to get to the tiny town of Beltana. It's full of amazing things like trains, glass windows and a shop that sells lollies. But, when Mum gets sick, Audrey and her little brother, Dougie, must stay alone with Mrs Paterson, a strict old lady who looks like a burnt stick. Audrey starts to think that even a town full of people can't stop you feeling lonely.

Audrey lives in the remote outback with her family. Her life is hard and lonely while Dad is away working. Audrey does extra jobs to help her Mum but hates cleaning out the chook pen or helping with the long drop dunny. Audrey and her friend, Stumpy, ponder important questions like whether she should be a girl or a man, and whether it would be better to be a sheep or a cow.

An Australian series, set in the 1930s, about a little girl with an inquiring mind and a lively imagination. Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Series
Audrey series
(3 books)

Harris, Christine & James, Ann (ill)

65874

Audrey's big secret

Audrey knows only too well the importance of family and what it means to be apart from those you love. But, in order to protect her friend, Audrey will need to keep the truth from her parents. She is torn between keeping a promise and telling the truth. Choices are never easy, especially when someone could be hurt.

Ava and Angus are off to the Doolimba show, with its fun rides and lots of cute animals. But, when the daring twins, Donna and Danny Donnelly, tempt Ava to sneak into the animals' shed at night time, dozens of prize animals escape their pens. Ava and Angus' delightful trip has turned into a disaster. The Donnelly twins might own up. If not, Ava and Angus will take all the blame.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Series
Ava Anne Appleton series
(4 books)

Harmer, Wendy & Edmonds, Andrea (ill)

5379

Ava Anne Appleton: Catching a wave

Ava Anne Appleton continues her road trip adventures and the next stop is the beach. When she meets a new friend who needs her help, Ava's courage is tested to overcome her fears.

The Appleton family continue their road trip and Ava has found that being on the road is quite an adventure. But, when faced with going higher than she ever thought possible, Ava wonders if she will be up to this new adventure.

When Ben and Gracie visit the art gallery, a gold coin transports them into the paintings of artist Frederick McCubbin. They venture back in time, meeting and travelling with new settlers to Australia. Ben and Gracie see the difficulties faced in the harsh Australian bush environment. As they venture deeper into the forest, the pair lose their way as night falls.

Maddie loves to sing and make up new songs. Her favourite is her humpback whale song, so she is very excited when her Mum and Grandma promise to take her to Shark Bay to see the whales. When they set off in their car and rattly old caravan, it looks like they might not get there at all. But, with some help along the way, Maddie's dream might still come true.

Grandparents are special. In these four short stories from Western Australia, four Aboriginal Australian writers have crafted stories featuring grandparents with their families. Fun, adventurous tales, featuring Noonga and Wongutha words, illustrations and local knowledge.

Captain Jimmy Cook knows even the greatest explorers have problems. To start with, everyone in the school wants to help with the Secret Dinosaur Dig, so it's just a matter of time before Ms Fennel puts a stop to everything. And also, a large smelly cat is sitting in the dinosaur hole. But Jimmy has found a map of the school with a great big giant X on it. And everyone knows what that means- treasure! Is Captain Jimmy Cook about to make the discovery of a lifetime (again)?

Mr Hooper and The Cat with the Coloured Tail travel through the countryside in their ice-cream van. They enjoy looking for heart shapes, and making people happy with their delicious moon-creams. But, a dark feeling is following the cat. Something is wrong. When the ice-cream van enters the forest, Mr Hooper and the cat realise the heart of the world is in danger. They must try and save it.

Mum's on to Dad again about the state of the chook yard. It's patched with sheets of old iron, a toilet pan, a tractor wheel and an old car bonnet. It's time to fix it up. But, the trouble that Dad's in with Mum is nothing compared to the mischief that a slithery, brown snake has in mind.

The Australian song is probably the most wide spread and enduring of the old-time shearers' songs. The tune came from an American Civil War song, Ring the Bell, Watchman, and was written by Henry Lawson. The song was first published in written format in 1946 and versions don't seem to differ much. The version in this book is as sung by A L Lloyd in the 1950s.

Cocky is a cheeky trickster who loves nothing more than pulling pranks on the other birds. But, when Cocky's tricks get him into real trouble, he finally learns his lesson. An hilarious rhyming adaptation of The Boy Who Cried Wolf.

Crocodiles haven't been seen in Curlew Creek for years, so Sam is surprised and excited when his dog finds a baby croc. What is he going to do with it? His mum tells him to take it out of the bath, his dad tells him to put it back in the creek.

Crow is so lacking in self-esteem that she doesn't realise what a special crow she is. She wishes she could be more like the 'other' crows she sees. She flies off to seek her destiny and to discover that she is all these things and more.

From an awesome sports car to a terrifying cyclone, from magical creatures to a haunted mango tree, these tales from up north are an enjoyable collection of well-written short stories full of fun, adventure and magic.

Appalled by the sight of a beautiful bear condemned to a life of cruelty and deprivation, old Yusuf spends all his hard-earned savings to release the bear.

ISBN 9781875560370

Publisher University of Western Australia Press, 1994

Stanley, Elizabeth

31447

Dog emergency, The

When Dillon and his brother, Ryan, find a cattle dog in town that has hurt his leg, they decide to take him to the nursing station for first aid. They know Mum won't take him in because she is still upset about losing the family dog, Buster. The stray dog needs an operation and the boys try to earn the money to pay for it. When it looks as if they can claim him for themselves, the owner returns.

Based on the story told by Daisy Utemorrah of the Worora people to children living in Derby, Western Australia. One of a series of Aboriginal stories about animals and birds. Dunbi the owl is discovered in a tree by some children who soon learn the consequences of mistreating him.

Sally Tinker is pretty smart. She is not even twelve and she has created a machine that can both shrink and enlarge practically anything. Unfortunately, she has enlarged a dung beetle to a monstrous size and it is threatening to crush the whole town in a giant dung ball! Luckily her best friend is probably the worlds best biologist under the age of twelve and together they just might have a chance of stopping the beetle and saving the town.

Fabish was a handsome, grey racehorse who always tried his hardest. When he retired, Fabish took care of the flighty yearlings, showing them what was expected of a racehorse. One hot summer day, a wild wind blew up and Fabish smelled smoke. Fire was coming, fast. When the trainer opened the gate, Fabish and the yearlings galloped away. The fire raged through the night as the trainer battled to save the racehorses. The next morning, there were no signs of Fabish or the young horses. Based on a true story during the Black Saturday fires.

A look at life in Australia through the eyes of a primary school boy during World War II. The excitement of seeing the American soldiers and tanks, the concept of black-outs, bomb shelters and ration coupons are explained.

Flapper is an Australian carrier pigeon during World War II. Sent off to war in the Pacific, Flapper is deep in the jungle on Manus Island, on patrol, when he has to evade enemy fire and deliver the message that will save the soldiers to whom Flapper has been assigned.

Moreton lives happily with his Go-ma and Go-pa in the Botanic Gardens in Sydney. However, because of the increasing human population, Moreton's dad decides to search for a new family home, which must be up high, away from humans and in a sunny location. Moreton thinks his new home is perfect but he had not counted on the feral Pitt Street Cat.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Series
Great Australian yarns series
(7 books)

Various

22969

Great barbie disaster, The

Dad loves to make things. So, when Mum wants a new barbecue, Dad gets to work. Then, they have a weekend barbie that no one will ever forget.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Series
Jack Russell, dog detective series
(12 books)

Odgers, Darrel & Sally & Dawson, Janine (ill)

22479

Jack Russell, dog detective: the blue stealer

When someone starts stealing humans' special things, Sarge is on the case. But when dogs' special things, such as Foxie's old boot and the Squekes' plastic chop are stolen, that's a job for Jack Russell.

ISBN 9781741691016

Series
Jack Russell, dog detective series
(10 of 12)

Publisher Scholastic Australia, 2008

Odgers, Darrel & Sally & Dawson, Janine (ill)

2373

Jaleesa the emu

Jaleesa thinks something is waiting for her in the mysterious land at the back of her great-grandmother's house. This story within a story involves the spirits of the animals, and in particular, the emu.

Jesse, the elephant, must move from her temporary home in Moore Park to her permanent residence, an Indian palace, at the new Taronga Park Zoo. It is not easy moving an elephant, particularly with beautiful Sydney harbour in the way and especially before the Sydney Harbour Bridge was built. Perhaps, Ernest, the little tugboat, and his friend, Lindsay the punt ferry, can help.

The worst thing in the world has happened. Davey and his friends have a big match and their teammates are falling like flies. And Mo Clouter, the school bully who hates cricket, wants to play. Luckily, a new kid at school just happens to be an ace player. Tay Tui is an awesome wicketkeeper but she won't stop singing while she plays, and it's so distracting. Then, more disaster. Davey's in trouble again and on detention for the match.

Davey Warner is passionate about cricket, his mates at school and their cricket team, the Sandhill Sluggers. His bat is named Kaboom and his dog is Max, who helps the team practise. He's an expert at catching them out. On the first day back at school, Davey gets detention because of the bully Mo Clouter. But, this leads to a light bulb moment for Davey and he comes up with a way to win the next two critical cricket matches.

Davey Warner bets his friend, Sunil, half his birthday money-bought lollies that he can hit six sixes in the upcoming battle against their club rivals for the number one spot on the ladder. But, Davey forgets to hand in his assignment on lawn bowls, which just happens to be the favourite sport of his Year 6 teacher, Mr Mudge. So, Davey is banned from playing cricket until it's done.

Davey and his friends in the South East Slammers rep team travel to the country for the weekend for a match against the dreaded North-West Whackers. But not only is their cranky Year 6 teacher, Mr Mudge, chaperoning the team, school bully Mo Clouter and his band of buffoons have suspiciously joined the cheerleading team for the away game. Then Davey discovers that Max, his cheeky fox terrier, has stowed away on the bus, and no motel will put them up with a stinky hound in tow, so they are forced to camp in a nearby paddock. Tents are torn, Max eats all the food, and someone is snoring so loudly that no one gets any sleep...

ISBN 9781925310337

Series
The kaboom kid series
(6 of 5)

Publisher Simon & Schuster (Australia) Limited, 2015

Warner, David & McGee, J V & Faber, Jules (ill)

5948

Kaboom Kid, The: Playing up

Davey lives for cricket but Mr Mudge, his teacher, doesn't think it's so great, especially after being donked on the head by a ball. He confiscates Davey's precious bat, Kaboom. And of course, a selector has turned up at training and Davey's hopeless without his special bat. When his older brother asks him to fill in on his team for a big match, Davey is ecstatic. But, he's got to get Kaboom back, somehow.

Davey Warner and his friends have a Test match planned. A whole weekend of cricket on the beach, playing against Shimmer Bay and their captain, Josh Jarrett, also known as Mr Perfect. But, when Davey and his friends hit the sand, they find they have to share it with some unexpected visitors. What's more, Shimmer Bay has a new opening batter, whom Josh calls his secret weapon, and he looks a lot like Davey.

Lively, cheeky Australian series. Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Series
Mates - great Australian yarns series
(27 books)

Various

2971

Matty's comeback

Matty loves football. He's South Sydney's number one fan and the star scorer in his own local team. He knows he can help his team to the semifinals and beyond. But, things don't go to plan and now it seems Matty won't be able to help his team to victory after all. But, help can come from surprising places and people.

Tammy is safe at home, but her heart is with her father at the warfront. While her mother knits socks for the soldiers, Tammy slips a message inside each pair. But will her one special message find her father, and bring him safely home?

There is a new kid in town and he wants Mitch's wicketkeeping spot. The gloves are on! Get ready for a mighty Clash of the Keepers! Mitchell Starc and Marshall Spark have got loads in common. They both like keeping. They both like opening the batting. Even their names sound the same! So what's driving Mitch bananas?

ISBN 9781742769158

Series
Mighty mitch series
(99 books)

Publisher Scholastic Australia, 2018

Starc, Mitchell & Bunting, Philip (ill)

9378

Min Min, The

The warm and humorous story of a family in an isolated community. Dad tells lots of scary stories but one night he scares himself.

The irresistible muddle-headed wombat and his friends, a tiny, practical mouse and a vain, neurotic, tabby cat have an invention. But, you will have to read the story to find out who invented it, and exactly what the invention is.

The irresistible, muddle-headed wombat can be a little naughty because he is so forgetful but his friends, a tiny, practical mouse and a vain, neurotic tabby cat, would be surprised if he behaved very badly.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Series
Muddle-headed wombat series
(14 books)

Park, Ruth & Young, Noela (ill)

45054

Muddle-headed wombat stays at home, The

The last recorded adventure of the irresistible muddle-headed wombat and his friends, a tiny, practical mouse and a vain, neurotic, tabby cat.

No-one enjoys being the new kid at school and Sam is no different. He doesn't set out to be the uncool new kid and has plans to be the most popular kid in the school after moving from Adelaide to Canberra. This book is hilarious with tales of lonely losers, frog underpants, fireworks and bad boys.

I have so many super-amazing and imporatant things to write about! I'll tell you all about them. I've got a brand-new bedroom - yay! My best friend Lucy moved away last week and I really miss her. I'm planning lots of cool inventions (I'm pretty sure some will work too!) Someone keeps sneaking into my room but I don't know who! There's a new girl at school called Matilda. She looks fun . . . but why does she act so mysteriously all the time??? I'm going to find out exactly what's going on!

Separated from his mother as a young joey, Paddy O'Melon is found and raised by an Irish family who live in the rain forest and often help orphaned or injured animals. But while Paddy loves his new human family, he's curious to find out what he really is. So, he sets out on a journey into the rain forest to find his real home.

Major Poppa, Abbie and her little brother Flynn are on a mission at the Royal Show. They must enter the show-bag pavilion, fight their way through crowds, defeat powerful enemies and get to the other side to buy a chunky choco cherry chew show-bag. Will they make it out of there alive?

Elaine Russell's dad built the family shack just outside the Aboriginal mission at La Perouse in Sydney. The life of an indigenous kid on the urban fringes with memories from happy ones like hunting for bush tucker to her saddest Christmas ever.

Sheila the blue heeler is the smartest dog in town, so when her master Old Ben goes missing, she turns to the Aussie Angels. They are baffled until Mike discovers some old caves and an underground river that may unravel the mystery.

Don't worry! This isn't the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs that has bored children for years. This disgusting and completely awesome retelling of the classic tale brings the story to life for a whole new generation of blood thirsty, booger hunters!

Charli is at riding camp, where her dream is about to come true. She will finally learn to ride a real, live horse. But, Instead of riding the beautiful palomino Razz, Charli is stuck with the massive, retired racehorse, named Spud. And Charli is worried about the bats that fill the night sky. Riding camp isn't turning out the way Charli planned, especially when she finds herself in the middle of a life-threatening disaster.

When a young girl is taken from all that she knows and loves, she dreams of how she will return to the life she had to leave behind. The book follows one girl who was taken from her home and placed in a children's home. Australian Government policy at the time removed one hundred thousand Aboriginal children who are known as the Stolen Generation.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Series
The kaboom kid series
(5 books)

Various

4603

Thorpey

It's hard being a good pet owner. And, when your pet is a Comet fish called Thorpey, which should be swimming around very fast but is floating upside down, it's even harder. Only little sister, Annie, knows for sure what's wrong with Thorpey.

Its nearly time for school holidays, and Tiny Timmy just cant wait! Hes been planning on going to soccer camp, seeing his friends and playing every day! But then Dad tells the family theyre going away on an island holiday... It sounds like fun, but Timmys worried hell lose all his soccer skills! Can Timmy stay sharp while hes away?

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Series
Tiny Timmy series
(6 books)

Cahill, Tim

7178

Tomato sauce, of course

Tammy is obsessed with Aussie Tomato Sauce. The company closes down and in her hunt to stock up on as many bottles as possible, lands in a yucky situation.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Series
Tommy Bell Bushranger Boy series
(3 books)

Various

31857

Tommy Bell: Shoot-out at the rock

Tommy Bell has been sent to work on his grandparents' farm for the school holidays. He thinks he is being punished for his bad behaviours and doesn't want to go. But when he discovers an old bushranger's hat hidden in a cave, everything changes. Suddenly he is sent back to the gold rush days and finds himself face-to-face with the bushranger Captain Thunderbolt! At first, the life of a bushranger seems full of thrills and adventure. But Tommy soon learns that it is full of danger as well...

When Tommy Bell finds himself caught in a struggle between two friends, he decides to take a break from it all and escape...back to 1862! Tommy's magic cabbage-tree hat sends him back once again to the gold rush days, when he stumbles into more trouble than he left behind. Face-to-face with the dangerous Frank Gardiner and his mates Flash Jack and Ben Hall, Tommy learns about the value of true friendship...and about how it feels to be part of one of most infamous robberies in Australia's history!

Tommy Bell is happy when the popular new kid at school wants him to join his gang, but his new friend is trouble. Turns out he's not half as much trouble as the bushranger that Tommy meets when his magic hat takes him back to the gold rush days. Tommy find himself in the middle of a horse robbery, a police chase and a prison escape!

In a little house in a dark forest, a toymaker lives all alone. One day, a small brown bird is drawn to the magic sounds of the toymaker's violin. Together they make music so enchanting that even the trees shiver and murmur in wonder. But as the seasons change, the little bird dreams of the wide open sky.

Noseville Public School has a school veggie patch cared for by the school's environmental group and the school's two resident wombats. When the beautiful produce begins to disappear at an alarming rate the wombats are considered the prime suspects, with the principal demanding their removal. It is up to the wombats themselves to solve the mystery and retain their home.

Uncle Tobias is the fisherman Elder of an Aboriginal family. The story follows a typical day on the beach for the mob, collecting bush tucker and celebrating with family. Uncle Tobias tells stories of the original use of the Land, and remains almost oblivious to the many changes that the coming of Europeans made to this beach locale.